Vice President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has reaffirmed government’s resolve to end illegal mining otherwise known as “galamsey” in forest reserves and in water bodies.
The Vice President said new measures are being put in place including a “bill being prepared” to ban illegal mining in forest reserves.
She made the statement when she met with the Ghanaian community in Belgium, including chiefs, elders, youth representatives, and members of the Ghana Council.
“We are working towards banning mining in water bodies. We have been mining gold forever, how come all of a sudden all our waters were polluted.
“The water sources are normally in our reserved portions and that is the reason why those areas are reserved forests. When you give that to somebody who can even will it to his family, how do you stop that source from polluting the river to many areas,” she said.
The meeting was part of her official visit to Brussels for the 2025 Global Gateway Forum.
During the engagement, the Vice President Opoku-Agyemang thanked the Ghanaian community for their continued support and contributions to national development.
Topics discussed included food safety, import duty charges, youth indiscipline, labor export, and illegal mining. She highlighted government’s initiatives such as the Adwumawura Programme and the 24-Hour Economy Policy, designed to expand employment opportunities locally and for Ghanaians in the diaspora.
She also urged parents to portray Ghana positively to their children abroad and encouraged young people to maintain discipline and plan for the future.
The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, James Gyakye Quayson said government is reviewing some 2,167 licenses that were issued to individuals to mine in the last 8 years.
“Between 1988 and 2016, 88 licenses were issued for mining but between 2017 and 2024 alone, 2,167 licenses were issued,” he stated, noting, some persons will be prosecuted.
The Deputy Minister urged the diasporans to be patient with government assuring them that “the water bodies will be restored gradually.”
The Vice President’s meeting with the Ghanaian community in Belgium reflects the government’s commitment to engaging with its diaspora and promoting national development.
Source:Lovinghananews.com
